LIFE ACROSS AMERICA 2010

Hi Everyone,

Another amazing day of riding … 89.5 miles to Port Huron.

Check out the pix for today and last night at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-24-08%20–%20Port%20Huron%20MI/

Some of the pix are from the 50th birthday party for Miss J … and … also from the cleaning party of the bikes!

We are now at the Port Huron bridge which takes us into Canada tomorrow!

Tomorrow morning, they are closing down the bridge to allow all of our cyclists to ride together into Canada, we are going to be led by Joanna … who is from Ontario, Canada!

Hopefully, I’ll get some amazing pix for you tomorrow morning … and… during the rest of the day to London, Ontario, Canada … which will be another 81 mile ride!

Not much to say at this time … the pix should say it all!

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

Today was a 79 mile ride to Birch Run, MI!

It was a good day and went had a couple of detours … one was a bridge out … so it took us about 4 miles longer to finish.

We are staying at a Comfort Inn … and I’m not sure their server will hold out so I’m trying to do the blog 1st!

Again, I didn’t take many pix today … I rode with several different cyclists today and it was a good day for me!

You can check out the two pix I took today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-23-08%20–%20Birch%20Run%20MI/

Interesting note:  Another cyclist named Larry (not with this ride) but very interested in doing it with ABB next year … came out and rode the last 15 miles with us … as we came into town!  He was a very strong cyclist and shouldn’t have any problem doing it next year!

Thanks to everyone who’s shown an interest in Life Across America!

Especially America’s Blood Centers and their employees and the Foundation(FABC) who believed in Life Across America 2008, from the start!

It’s hard for me to believe that this whole incredible ride will be over on 4Aug08 … what an amazing thing!

When you take 56 total strangers and put them together (day and night) for 50 days … an incredible thing happens … they become like one big extended family!

And the real “you” whatever that may be … comes out!

You can’t hide it because we’re all doing things that takes us to our maximum at any given moment!

It’s fun!  It’s exhilirating!  It’s scary!(can I make it through just one more day!)  It tests your ability and your stamina!  It tests your endurance! It tests your ability to deal with people who may or may not like you!

And what you find out is that all of us can do more than we ever dreamed of … and that’s a good thing!

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

Today was a very long day … 114 miles … from Ludington, MI to Mt Pleasant, MI.

It was a cooler day … with the threat of “thunderstorms” all day long … however … they didn’t develop until we were into town … and then it rained on us. (Yet, it didn’t “pour” down on us!

Once I got in … I was able to shower and then elevate my feet and  ”ice” my legs, also able to go to dinner, do some laundry, finally!

Sorry, I didn’t take many pix today … I guess I was focused on finishing our last “long” ride for this trip!

This rest of the rides will be in the 70′s and 80′s, if you call an 80 mile bicycle ride short!

It’s always nice to get your comments … thanks Kaisa … for letting everyone know about the need for blood!

It’s hard for me to believe that this is Day 37 … out of 50 days!  Wow … the earlier days seem like an “eternity” away!  (I’m sure glad I took a lot of pix and wrote the blog … otherwise … it would be really hard to remember all the really neat memories!)

I’ve met some really amazing people on this ride … and… Lake Michigan is incredible! (It feels like the Bay Area!)

Another interesting thing about this trip … is that it’s going on at the same time as the Tour de France!

However, they’re only doing 23 days! (Yes, I know they’re a lot faster, climbing a lot steeper, and getting a lot more press coverage… yet … in it’s own way … the Across America North/Life Across America … is our own little Tour de America!)

OK, enough of  the “dreaming” part … time to focus on tomorrow’s 75 mile ride!

 You can check out the pix at:

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-22-08%20–%20Mount%20Pleasant%20MI/

Thanks for your interest,

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

What a neat day!

Lots of firsts for me … 1st time on Lake Michigan … 1st time on a Car Ferry Ship!

Check out the pix … lots of them today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-21-08%20–%20Ludington%20MI%20Ferry%20Ride/

We viewed the ship, we sang and John played guitar for us, Dan made up lots of songs about cycling which we sang!

Another ship mate played mandolin with John while we sang.er

Another ship crew mate played the accordian with John while we sang lots of songs … the accordian player played very well and lots of polka music!

Basically what I’m saying it was a lot of fun today and at one time we had about 40 people watching and singing with us!

Check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-21-08%20–%20Ludington%20MI%20Ferry%20Ride/Pix%20on%20ship/

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

What an incredible 57.4 miles today!

It was a nice day … my bike cassette worked perfectly … and I rode today with P.M. (my roommate)!

There were a couple of minor accidents to day … one cyclists bumped wheels one a cyclist in front of her and she fell … nothing serious, just minor road rash! (see pix)

Another cyclist was knocked over when a fairly large dog went running across the road in pursuit of another dog… the cyclist was fine and the dog was fine, therefore all seems well!

Today when I rode with my roommate … it was a really good ride and we went pretty fast … finishing in 3 hrs 10 mins!

This afternoon I was able to visit with my sister, Sylvia, and her husband, Louis… also with my nephew, Michael …  later in the evening I visited with my niece, Judy and her husband, Bruce!  It was a joyful time!

After dinner, rap, mechanix and visiting with relatives … I’m exhausted and I’m going to bed!

Thanks for everything,

Larry F.

Check out all the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-20-08%20–%20Manitowoc%20WI/

Hi Everyone,

What a great day!  85 miles to Fond du Lac!

I had a great time today riding with Mr & Mrs D & J, and Mr. E. (They were nice enough to slow up on the “hills” so I had a chance to catch up!)

This is a very beautiful part of Wisconsin … Fond du Lac … lots of green pastures, lakes, and

we are staying at the downtown Ramada!

We also stopped at the downtown bike shop and they were really nice to our cyclists!

Last night I had to change my chain on the bike … actually Mark the mechanic changed it for me!

He left a couple of extra links longer than before … which gave me … a couple of extra gears in both the middle (39 ring) and the big (53 ring)  which really helped me today in climbing! … Thanks to Mark!

So all in all, it was a good day … and the “comments” are really helpful … and welcome!

Check out the pix for today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-19-08%20–%20Fond%20du%20Lac%20WI/

Thanks to ABC … and the local blood centers who are doing an incredible job every day!

And most of all … thanks to our blood donors … who help save lives every day!

Larry F.

P.S. Well, the new chain helped me a lot when it came to shifting gears, both up and down!  However, it still had quite a “clatter” or “clicking” … I took it to Mechanix hour and this time Jim took a lot at it … then … he rode it and even then … he really couldn’t hear it!  So he put it back on the rack and now he could hear it a little bit… at that time, Mike (tour leader), walked by and they discussed it briefly, so Mike listened to it, and then stopped the wheel from spinning … and … “wiggled” the rear cassette … which turned out to be loose!  So Jim took out his special tool and tightened up the rear cassette.  So it’s my guess that tomorrow will be an incredible ride with the bike shifting “quietly” and that will help me with my climbing ability!  So a special thank you to Mark (for the new chain & extra 2 gears), to Jim for tightening up my cassette, and to Mike! (for finding the loose cassette!)

To my buddies at Santa Rosa Cyclery (Mitch, Charlie, DJ, etc.) thanks for putting the bike together so well that it’s lasted this long! (By the way, I’ve only had 3 flats so far with my Amardillo tires … all on the back wheel!

Hi Everyone,

It was an incredible day! (a 92 mile day!) From LaCrosse, WI to Wisconsin Dells, WI!

A 60 mile bike path leading through 3 tunnels and then the last 30 miles with a few rollers and a nice downhill finish into Wisconsin Dells, WI!

It was a slower day, a more relaxing day!

A beautiful ride through very green scenery and a very beautiful area of Wisconsin!

As you check out the pix today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-18-08%20–%20Mauston%20WI/

You’ll see that we encountered a tree down across the path … 3 very big tunnels … they were very cool!

Lots of neat, clean little towns!

It was a good day and hopefully the next couple of days won’t be quite as long (in mileage) and give us a chance to recoup a little!

The majority of cyclists have become like family … example … last night one of our cyclists(Mr. John, who plays guitar and writes music) wrote and played a song written especially for Mr. Al … it was a touching, humorous version of what had happened during the day when they got lost!

That’s what makes this group of cyclists … so awesome!

Also tonight, I had a “terrrible clatter” when I was shifting gears in either the 53 or 39 … in between the gears of 11, 13, 15, 17 cogs in the back wheel!  (Mark measured the chain and suggested we change the chain because it had extended it’s life over the last 2500 miles, luckily, I had brought a new chain with me.  So we changed the chain … leaving 2 extra links in the new chain … so I could now use the 13 and 11 gears on both the 53 and the 39!)

We’ll see how it goes tomorrow!

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

What an interesting day!

We had a 90 mile day to do … then the thunderstorms started and it started to rain!

Well, we ride in the “rain” … so the 1st 30 miles was in the “rain”!

Then it settled down and we all rode together to keep our spirits up … lots of hills and climbs today!

Then a one mile climb at about 75 miles and just when I finished climbing it … the big thunderstorm … hit us!

So 15 of us hung out in a small barn (check out the pix I took today)

After the big thunderstorm passed over … it continued to rain… so we rode the last 15 miles to LaCrosse in the rain!

An incredible day … an incredible memory for all of our cyclists!

Larry F.

Check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-17-08%20–%20La%20Crosse%20WI/

Hi everyone,

Not a lot to say today!

Back to back centuries sort of leave you speechless!

Most of the cyclists … just wanted to get it over with!

I wasn’t very motivated today … yet … finished the ride okay!

We had some “hills” and “climbs” especially the very 1st one of the day … right up from the hotel!

Even the fast riders were very melancholy today … and happy to finish it!

Check out the 5 pix that I took today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-16-08%20–%20Rochester%20MN/

It was great to hear from Mark & Carol today … also from Katrina, Aaron … and the others who have posted their comments!

Thanks to Bob Sanchez and all his hard work!

Thanks to Sam Holtan for trying to get in contact with me!

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

Another incredible cycling day!  103 miles from Worthington, MN to Mankato, MN!

A slight tailwind and a soft downhill always helps … plus … riding with 4 other very strong cyclists helps even more! (103 miles in 5 hrs 10 mins and an average of 19.8 mph … even though I had a “flat” on the way!)

Lauren & Chuck (from North Carolina) stopped to help me with the “flat” while the others waited … so about 10 mins later … we were on our way again!

I must admit I had a great day and really felt the “joy” of cycling as the other cyclists, P.M., Miss D, Mr. C, Miss L, all pitched in to help me finish the century!

They are an amazing group of cyclists! (check out the pix)

I am so grateful for the compassion and understanding that I’ve felt from the other cyclists on this trip! (As Dr T said earlier, you can ride one hundred miles by yourself (but it’s a lot harder) and when you ride with 4 or 5 cyclists it becomes a “joy” to be a part of the team … each cyclists takes their turn at the front, pulling for however long you can pull, then you fade back to the rear and wait your turn to pull again. (that way every cyclist gets a chance to rest and recover … that is, IF,  you are strong enough to keep up … if not, you fall by the wayside and the “peleton” is gone, and you are by yourself again!)

Once we got in, I showered and walked over to get a bite to eat at McGoff’s Irish pub  (hamburger, milk, Sprite and potatoe stew for me)

Once again, I am very thankful for my faith and belief in Jesus Christ, which has helped me many times on this trip, to never give up … and keep going each day!

There was an article in the Worthington, MN., newspaper … the Daily Globe … which can be seen at: www.dglobe.com

It’s been a great day … and tomorrow we’ll be riding another century … so stand by for the update tomorrow evening!

Larry F.

Check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-15-08%20–%20Mankato%20MN/